Remote control



A. B. NEWELL REMOTE CONTROL June 29, 1937.

3 Sheets-Sheet l I Filed Feb. 7, 1955 W wm tniqlumk mziqmm m tufiim Qmi mkz u v pmom lllLlJllJ 5mm 29 193% 'A. B. NEW-ELL REMOTE CONTROL 3 Shams-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. '7, 1935 v m NUE A. B. NEVVELL.

REMOTE CONTROL June 29, 1937.

Filed Feb. 7, 1955 5 Sheets$heet 3 IIIII |||l| \N) Patented June 29, 1937 UNIT D STATES eATEN'r OFFICE aoaaua 14 Claim.

This invention relates to remote controls in general, and with regard to certain more specific features, to electric remote controls for controlling operating members of vehicles and the like.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a simple, dependable remote control which is particularly adapted to the exacting service required in controlling airplane wing surfaces and the like, and hence to any similarly exacting land or marine service; the provision of a control of the class described which eliminates weighty and complicated mechanical cable or other extensions; the provision of a control of the class described which is light and flexible and adapted to be applied to a variety of constructions with maximum simplic- :lty; the provision of a control which relieves an operator of substantially all of the heavy manual 2 effort heretofore ordinarily required; the provision of apparatus oi the class described which is at all times reliable and which even upon partial failure can be successfully operated; and the provision of apparatus of this class which is positive and simple in operation. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of 30 construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims. In the accompanying drawings, in which are 5 illustrated several of various possible embodiments of the invention;

Fig. l is a diagrammatic layout showing one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing another form of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a second form. of the invention; and,

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic detail showing certain switch connections.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Heretofore, both in the case of manual control of an airplane by a pilot and in the case of auto-- 50 matic control, it has been the custom to employ either a mechanical system for transferring energy from the control point to the controlled point, or an exceedingly complicated electrical or pneumatic system. Cables, pulleys, links,

pipe and the like have been used, as well as complicated switch and relay circuits. Furthermore, these have been of a nature that when installed, complication of the system seriously interfered with other necessary operating parts. They required an excessive amount of space and often 5 were unsafe, as well as requiring (in the cases of the mechanical systems) a substantialamount of effort on the part of the operator. It was also difficult to repair them when once they became out of order. The present invention overcomes these and other obvious difficulties.

It is to be understood hereinafter, although the case is used of an airplane with the requirement for the remote control of wing surfaces in certain positions, by a pilot in. another position, that this 15 is exemplary and that other applications ofthe system may he made.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. i, there is shown at numeral i a control switch unit located, for example, near the operator in the operating cabin of a ship. I

At numeral 3 is shown the unit to be controlled.

At numeral i3 is shown an operating mechanism for operating the controlled unit. Numeral l indicates the electric cable for enclosing the wires to be described for connecting the control unit,

the controlled unit and the operating mechanism.

At numeral t is shown the shaft or other element to he controlled anginarly. This is connected with the wing surface which is to be 3 angularly controlled (in the present example). The shaft i is operated from a shaft i i through a speed reducing gear ill. This gear ill is preferably of the class which will transfer said motion from the shaft ii to the shaft ii in either direction 3:, but which will not transfer motion from the shaft 9 back to the shaft ii. A. worm gear system will accomplish this result. It is to be understood, however, that other types oi. gearing may be used in view of certain other provisions in certain modifications of the present system.

The system of shafting H includes a brake drum I! with which cooperates a brake shoe H. The shafting Ii also includes one element IQ of a clutch splined at 2| so as to permit longitudinal movement but not relative rotary movement with respect to the shafting Ii. The other element of the clutch is indicated at numeral 23 and is fastened to drive shafting 26, the latter extending from a motor 21. A pilot bearing is shown at 200.

A linkage 29 articulates the clutch member l9 and brake shoe l1, and a solenoid 3| such that when the clutch I8, 23 is closed, the brake shoe i1 is released and vice versa. A spring 33 norposition such that the clutch I9, 23 is open and the brake |1 set (as in Fig. 1). ditions the solenoid 3| is d s-energized, as will be. shown.

At numeral 35 is shown a control switch lo.- cated near the operator consisting of contacts a to n in order, and at numeral 31 is shown a controlled switch consisting of contacts a to n in the same order. Contacts and a are connected by a conducting wire. Contacts b and b are also likewise connected and the other contacts likewise respectively connected and likewise respectively lettered. It is to be understood that the number of contacts shown is exemplary and that any number n may be used.

The wires used for connecting the respective contacts are all bundled into a single cable reaching from the operator's position to the position of the controlled switch 31 which may be quite compactly arranged with the motor 21 and auxiliary units elsewhere itemized near the device which is to be operated or controlled. This cable also includes certain other wires to be enumerated hereinafter and also certain spare wires which may be substituted quickly if any one of the connections between the contacts a-a', b-b', etc., fail. As will be seen hereinafter, a failure of one or more of these wires, short oi substantially the complete set, does not result in crippling the control as a whole.

At numeral 39 is shown a rotatable insulating disc for supporting oppositely disposed, insulated brushes 4| and 43 adapted, upon rotation of the disc 39, to successively contact the contacts a--n by pairs.

A battery 45 energizes the brush 4i by way of wire 41 and hence energizes the contact on switch 35 upon which the brush 4| is resting, as for instance, contact a in the position shown. This also energizes the corresponding contact a on switch 31 because contacts a and a are cross connected.

The controlled switch 31 has an insulating disc 49 attached to said shaft 9. The disc 49 supports a pair of brushes 5| and 53. Each brush 5| and 53 subtends an are providing contact with one-half of the contacts a-n minus one. Thus two contacts are left untouched by the brushes 5| and 53. In the drawings these are shown as contacts a and 9, these corresponding to contacts a and g of switch 35, but in the latter switch the contacts a and g are contacted by the brushes 4| and 43 respectively.

The brush 43 of switch 35 is connected to the field winding 55 of said motor 21, this connection being made by means of wire 51. The field winding 55 is connected to the battery 45 through said solenoid 3| and by means of a wire 59.

The brush 5| of switch 31 is connected to one side of the armature of motor 21 by means of a wire 6|, and the other brush 53 of said switch 31 is connected to the other side of said armature by means of a wire 63.

A pilot lamp 65 or equivalent signal, is located near the switch 35 and operator, and is connected across the battery 45 by wire 31, switch 69, and wire 1|. As shown, the switch 39 is controlled from the linkage 29 so that when the clutch I9, 23 is closed, the switch 69 is also closed, thus energizing the pilot lamp 85. On the other hand, when the clutch I9, 29 is opened (and consequently the brake |1 set), the switch 59 is opened and the pilot lamp 55 is de-energized.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

Under these con-' *mally reacts to return the mechanism 29 to a Assuming that the operator (by means oi handle H) moves the brushes 4|, 43 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to a position along the line A--A, current flows from the battery 45 through wire 41 to brush 4| which is now on contact 0. Contact 0 being connected with contact 0' on switch 31 also energizes the latter, and consequently also the brush 5| which is in contact with said contact 0'. Current then flows over wire 8|, through the armature of motor 21, wire 33 and to brush 53. The current from brush 53 then passes into contact 1 and then to contact 1 at switch 35, brush 43, wire 51, field winding 55, solenoid 3|, wire 59 and back to the battery 45.

Energization of the solenoid 3| draws over link 13 of the linkage 29, against the action of spring 33, thus drawing over the lever and crosshead 11. This closes clutch I9, 23 and releases the brake I1.

Thus the energized motor 21 is free to drive the shaft 9 through closed clutch I3, 23, released shafting H, and gearing l3. This causes a follow-up movement of the brushes 5| and 53 which continues until the contacts 0' and i are uncovered by the space between the brushes 5| and 53. When these contacts 0' and i are uncovered, the above outlined circuit is broken, thus tie-energizing the motor 21 and the solenoid 3|, whereupon the spring 33 draws open the clutch i9, 23 and sets the brake |1. Hence, the shaft 9, which operates that which is to be moved, is set into a new position, the amount of resetting being proportional to the angle to which the control brushes 4| and 43 were set.

During the time that the resetting was made, the switch 69 was closed and hence the pilot light or the equivalent 65 operated to show the operator that the system was functioning, and for how long.

It will be understood that the brushes 4!, 43 have crossed certain sets of contacts prior to arriving at line AA but it will be seen that the fact that the brushes 4|, 43 pass over contacts in arriving at a given set, only effects operation in the desired manner; that is, the setting is started immediately when the first set of contacts is crossed.

An angularly reverse setting of switch 35 from any position energizes brush 53 to reverse the current in armature of motor 21 but not that in the field 55; hence, the following action is reverse to that traced above.

As shown in the drawings, the arc covered by brushes 4| and 43 respectively, is enough to effeet a span of a set of contacts, while the are covered by the spaces between brushes 5| and 53 is less than the space between successive contacts on switch 31.

Among the advantages of this system may be noted the ease with which the brushes 4 43 may be turned to any desired position. The followup mechanism operates promptly with the force necessary for effecting the setting of shaft 9. The lag of the beginning of follow-up motion is short, and always the same, regardless of how great an adjustment is made at switch 35. This is because adjusting action sets in when the first contact is reached upon adjustment and is thereafter continuous until the adjusting action is completed.

Even without a type of gear |3 which prevents reverse driving from shaft 9 to N, there is no force transmitted from the shaft 9 to the motor 21. This is because of the operation of brake accuse H which maintains a setting after it is once made.

All or part of the wires cl, ll, 81, end those joining the contacts Grn end c'n' may be in a single cable. This simplifies the layout of the apparatus inasmuch as such a cable may be positloned in corners and laid tortuously in a ve hicle such as on eirplene. lit may he placed in corners and the like that are otherwise not used.

If one oi the wire joining respective contacts c-n and c'=-n' should sccidentelly break or cease to function it merely means that the corre sponding setting mey not he made but this does not prevent adjacent or other settings from being mode, end thus, for instance, on sirplane may be flown seiely until landing may he made and s. repair eidecterl. 3y having eirtre, wires in the cable, these may he readily substituted by making proper connections and operation continued.

"it will he understood that, although a manual control is referred to tor resetting brushes ll and it, that eutometic control of these may also be effected, such as "oy nutometic gyroscopic opparatus or the like.

it will he further understood that as many repeater and control switches Elli may be operated in pairs as may be desirable, the single pair shown being merely exemplary. Control switches and operating mechanisms may be located at suitable points in e, vehicle.

In Fig. 2 is shown another form'of the invention in which like numerals designate like parts. in this form a positive positioning stop is used for switch and both switches are relieved of heavy operating current (see the light and heavy lines in 2). Furthermore, certein manually operable emergency switches are included for direct control. In this form of the invention, numeral again represents the control switch with contacts c to n thereon but with a single brush Gt energized from the iosttery by way oi wires ll and a switch The control switch 3i? again has corresponding contacts c n' with crushes 5i and The shaft ii is again the controlled shaft and operated through gearing from shaft ii, the lattcr again being splined to the element iii of the clutch The driving element 23 of the clutch is driven from the armature of motor dicing is effected by means of a flange t on said driven clutch element ill which, when the clutch. is opened, contacts with a stationary memher to cause frictional drag. However, complete braking is not eiiected by the brake t, 6 but by means of the aid of a positive stop used in connection with a drum 8 on shaft ii. This drum is no longer a brake drum but is in the nature of, or consists of, a wheel having a tapered notch ill with which is engageable a tapered pawl it.

The reduction in the gearing i3 is such that a whole number of revolutions of the Wheel 8 results inmovcment of brushes 5i and 53, the pitch distance between a set of contacts. The pawl l2 forms one part of a hen-crank M which is controlled from the stem 73 of said solenoid 3|, the spring return 33 being used to maintain the pawl i2 in the notch ll when the latter is adjacent the former. The lever is also articulated with said stem l3 so that when the pawl I2 is withdrawn from the notch ID, the clutch I9, 23 is closed and the drag brake 4, 6 releases.

The motor 21 in this modification, has a. split field winding having elements is and Bi reversely wound for reversing motor movement.

Tracing the wires that have not already been described in connection with the embodiment of Figure 1 (and correspondingly lettered on Fig. 2), they will be seen to comprise wii'cs t3 and 85 connecting the series field sections it and ill respectively to a battery wire ill by way of relay switches 89 and ill respectively. The mid tap 93 of ther'ield it, til connects to the other side of the battery ill by way of the armature or the motor fill, solenoid ill end wire 5&3. One side of the battery 65, ey means oi wire it is connected to the reley coils till and Gil (see wires till end M98 respectively). Wire ltili connects the other side of coil to brush iii] oi switch Bl and wire lllll connects the other side of coil to brush iii of sold switch Assuming the handle of switch 2 is raised so as to close the upward contact on wire 37, the automatic operation of the device is as follows:

To erlect control, the brush it is moved to the position 3-3 (see handle l-l'). This causes current to iiow from the battery 35 over line ll (through switch 2), brush ti, contact h, corresponding contact it on switch 871, brush E53, wire tilt, coil @ll of relay switch di l, wire itl, wire st and each to the battery Elli.

The above ceuses closing of the relay switch 599 whereby heavier current is drawn from the battery over wire til switch wire series coil wire dd, snneture of motor 2?, solenoid coil 35, wire till, and heel; to the battery d5. The coil 3i pulls over the linlr it against the return action of spring 83, thereby taking the pawl it out of the notch it end throwing lever lit to the right, thereby opening drag hralse [1,6 and closing clutch til, it. The motor drives through shaft closed clutch it, shaft ll, gearing it, end to shaft Fehaft ll continues to turn until the gaps between crushes lit and 58 break the circuit at contect h.

As the circuit is loroiren, the notch ill is ap proaching the location or the pawl it but preferaloly hes not reached it. 'he breaking oi the circuit, of course, ole-energizes solenoid 3i and the spring draws heck stem "it to rotate the lever i l clockwise and force pewl i2 against the edge of disc ll. Adjustments are so made, in view of the inertia of the system that the drag of pawl ill on disc 8 permits the notch ill to advance, but with deceleration to the position of pawl l2. As the system decelerates the notch and paw] align and the pawl i2 drops into the notch it. The action of the pawl iii effects a positive stop, the brake (l, t reducing shock in the system. The taper on the pawl end notch results in the brake l, 5 being immediately effective to reduce jar between the contact surfaces oi the pawl and notch when they meet. It will be noted at this point that the relatively heavy armature of motor 27! is disconnected and therefore needs not be braked by brake d, 6 or pawl l2. By this means there is obtained a, positive stop for positioning the brushes 5i and 53 so that the contact at which it is desired to effect a, break is midway in the respective gap between brushes. The system is also locked in adjusted position.

From the above it will be seen that a clockwise adjustment of the brush M on the control switch 35 effects energization of the series motor field coil 19, thus causing rotation of the motor in one direction. For rotating the motor in opposite direction to efliect an opposite adjustment, the

brush 4| is adjusted counterclockwise to a new position, such as position C--G. The low-current circuit then is as follows: Battery 35, wire 41, switch (including switch 2), brush 4I, contact e, contact e, brush Si, wire Illl, coil 33, wire I03, wire 95, and back to the battery 43.

Energlzation oi. coil 99 causes closing of the relay switch BI, and heavier current flows from the battery 45 through wire G'I, switch Si, wire 85, reverse series coil iii, wire 93, armature oi motor 2i, solenoid coil 3i, wire 5d, and back to The pawl ill is disengaged from.

the battery 46. the notch II}, the brake t, E is open the clutch I9, 23 is closed, while the motor '2! rotates in the direction adapted to move the shaft 5 for counter clockwise action of the icllow up, controlled switch 317.

The follow-up action continues until contact is brolren at contact c and the circuit opens. Under these conditions, the drag brake t, 3 is again applied while the clutch It, 23 is opened and the pawl I2 dropped. Deceleration is preferably about over when the notch IIl approaches the pawl I2 from the opposite side.

' In this system it will be seen that one or the other of brushes M or 53 is energized by a setting and is used in connection with one oi the series windings "I9 or 8! respectively.

In this embodiment of the invention, safety features explained in connection with the first form of the invention still inhere; that'is, a breakage of one of the connections between a contact on switch 35 and one on switch 31 will not completely disable the system. However, a further safeguard is provided in the switch 2 which may be thrown down so as to cut the control switch 35 out of circuit and throw into circuit the oilon manual control switch I6. This causes the wire I8 to be fed from the wire 41 and by throwing the arm of switch E6 to the right, wire 20 may be energized so as to energize the coil 91, and by throwing said arm to the left, wire 22 may be energized so as to energize the relay coil 83. En ergization of these respective coils causes for-- ward or backward movement oi the motor 2i as above described so as to cause an adjustment of the controlled shaft 8. The degree of adjustment is proportional to the time that the arm of switch I6 is permitted to remain to the leit or right.

The signal light is still effective in this i'orm oi the invention, operating by action of arm 15 in connection with switch 38 connected across battery 45, as explained in connection with Fig. l.

The difference between control by switch I6 .and the control by switch 36 is that with switch 35 a predetermined setting may be made and dismissed from mind and the follow-up adjustments will be made automatically; whereas with switch I6, it must be held closed until the pilot feels, by the proper response from the ship, that the proper setting has been effected, as with the old type of mechanical control, except that his movements are not resisted. When the adjustment has been approximated, he re-opens the switch I6 and the dropping of the pawl I2 into the notch I0 assures a locking of the system near the desired setting. The purpose of the switch I6 is for use in emergencies if the switches 35 and/or 31 become disabled completely. It will be understood that switch I6 may be also gyroscoplcally, or otherwise automatically controlled, so that by alternatively setting switch 2, a manual control may be efiected at handle H or gyroscoplc control from switch I6.

In Figs. 3 and 4 is shown another tom 0! the invention wherein single brushes are used on both of the switches 35 and 31, and wherein a stepby-step operating mechanism is used. Similar reference characters indicate similar parts and connections in this modification. Where they differ, new reference characters have been used. This system also shows a compound pilot light system whereby an Indication is had as to whether an adjustment is taking place one way, or the reverse.

In this form of the invention, the brush 43 is electrically connected with a central metallic conducting ring I08 which has a frictional, metallic contact with a second conducting ring II 1 the latter having a conducting arm I I3, which is the central swinging contact of a switch H5. The switch H5 has stationary contacts II! and lid. Thus, it will be seen that by turning the handle H counterclockwise, an incipient drag is effected between the rings I03 and Ill, whereby the brush 43 is rotated counterclockwise. After the central contact 01 the switch II5 strikes the right-hand contact H9, the ring Iii stops its advanceywhile the ring I09 proceeds with the brush 43. Thus the brush 43 is energized as soon as an adjustment is started by means of the handle H. Clockwise movement results in closing oi contact Ill as the brush 43 moves clockwise. The battery d5 feeds the single brush I20 on switch 31, said brush 43 covering all except one of the contacts a--n'. Thus under certain conditions, all contacts on switch 3? are energized except the one which corresponds to the contact on switch 35 upon which normally rests the brush 43. Upon making an adjustment of handle H, the brush 43 is set to another contact on switch 35 and this contact is of course, energized. Thus current flows from switch 3'! to switch 35, through the brush 4E3, rings I09, iII, through contact II'l (assuming that the handle H has been adjusted clockwise), wire I2I, solenoid coil I23, switch I25, wire l21, wire I29, wire I3I, and back to the battery to. At the same time, current flows through the pilot lamp R (which indicates clockwise adjustment) by way of wires I33, I35, HI, and back to battery 45.

It will be seen that energizatlon of the coil I23 will draw over hinged armature i3! which is normally spring-returned by a spring I39. The armature I31 has pivoted thereto a pawl MI normally pressed by a spring I43 against an upward stop I45. The pawl I4I, upon being drawn to the left, contacts one of the teeth I41 of the ratchet wheel I49 attached to the controlled shaft 9. A detent I5I ensures the advance of a single tooth pitch or multiple thereof for each stroke of the pawl I.

As soon as the armature is drawn towards the coil I23, the switch I25 in connection therewith is opened to break the said circuit, thus de-energizing the solenoid I23 and permitting the spring I39 to draw back the armature I31 with its pawl I. This immediately recloses the switch I25 and the action is repeated. The repeating action goes on until the shaft 8 is turned so that the brush I20 causes the opening I53 therein to come opposite one of the contacts a--n' which corresponds to one of the contacts an on switch 35 contacted by the brush 43. Thus, the particular circuit closed by movement of the brush 43 is re-opened and the controlled member thus re-set.

Assuming that the handle H is moved in a counterclockwise direction, the contact H9 is closed. Thus current flows from the battery 45,

through brush [20, one of the contacts (say e to contact e, uporT which the brush is assumed to be resting by adjustment), ring I09, ring III, contact H9, wire I55, solenoid I5I, switch I59, wire I6I, wires I29, I3I and back to battery 45. This causes a repeating action on an armature I63 returned by spring I65 and pivotally supporting a pawl IBTnormally pressed by spring I69 against the stop "I and engageable with said teeth I4! of the ratchet wheel I49. The pawl l6! causes an opposite rotation of the ratchet wheel I49 so that thebrush I advances to a position so that said contact e is positioned in the space I53, thus opening the previously closed circuit. While the counterclockwise adjustment goes on, the left-hand pilot lamp indicating counterclockwise adjustment is energized over wires I13, I75, I35, I3I, to battery 45.

In Figure 4 is shown a detail of the connec- 20 tions between the corresponding switches 35 and 31, applicable in detail to the form of the invention shown in Figure 3. It will be understood that in general a similar set of connections is used between corresponding contacts on said switches and 37. The connecting wires are indicated at numerals I'I'l in Figure 4. These are the insulated wires that are placed in a single cable for convenience in distribution of energy.

It will be understood, that although a battery is shown as a source of energy in the systems disclosed, that other sources of energy may be used.

Furthermore, the motorizing means of the mechanism may be varied in structure and design.

It will be seen that in all forms of the invention the electrical circuit is normally open, and shuts only during periods of adjustment.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In remote control apparatus, a control switch having a plurality of contacts, a circuit, means for selectively energizing said contacts from said circuit, controlled means and a controlled switch articulated therewith, saidcontrolled switch having a plurality of contacts corresponding to those of the control switch and respectively electrically connected, a plurality of separate brushes on the controlled switch each engaging one less than half of the number of contacts and connected in said circuit, relay switches respectively energizable from one controlled switch brush, a motor, means for energizing said motor to move forwardly or in reverse according to the selective action of said relays,

' a solenoid in said circuit, a drive connection between the motor and said controlled switch, a clutch in said connection and a positive stop, said clutch being adapted to be closed upon energization of the circuit and said positive stop released, and vice versa upon deenergization of the circuit, said control switch closing the circuit to one or the other of said control switch brushes depending upon the direction of movement of the control switch, whereby the motor is moved in one direction or another to cause the controlled switch motion to follow-up that of the control switch, whereby the controlled switch ultimately re-opens the circuit, and speed reducing means between the positive stop means and the controlled switch, the ratio of movement between the positive stop means and the controlled switch being such as to positively effect maximum controlled switch opening under locked conditions of the locking means.

2. In remote control apparatus, a circuit, means for energizing said circuit, a plurality of parallel connections in said circuit, a control switch having a plurality of contacts in said parallel connections, a controlled switch having a corresponding plurality of contacts in said plurality of connections, brushes in the control and controlled switches connected in said circuits in normal positions respectively closing and opening certain contacts, means for driving the controlled switch to follow-up motion of the controlled switch when the. latter is set in closed position at a given contact whereby a corresponding contact in the controlled switch is opened, an operating mechanism between the drive means and the controlled switch, means for positively locking the operating mechanism in a predetermined position after the control and controlled switches are moved to corresponding positions, said locking means being unlocked when the circuit is energized and locked when the circuit is de-energized, and means for decelerating the operating mechanism as the locking means comes into operation.

3. In remote control apparatus, a circuit,"

means for energizing said circuit, a plurality of parallel connections in said circuit, a control switch having a plurality of contacts in said parallel connection, a controlled switch having a corresponding plurality of contacts in said plurality of connections, brushes in the control and controlled switches connected in said circuits in normal positions respectively closing and opening corresponding contacts, means for driving the controlled switch to follow the motion of the control switch when the latter is set to closed position at a given contact whereby a corresponding contact in the controlled switch is opened, means for positively locking the operating mechanism in a' predetermined position after the control and controlled switches are moved to corresponding positions, said locking means being unlocked when the circuit is energized and locked when the circuit is deenergized, and clutch means between the motor and the controlled switch adapted to be closed upon energization of the circuit and opened upon de-energization.

4. In remote control apparatus, a circuit, means for energizing said circuit, a plurality of parallel connections in said circuit, a control switch having a plurality of contacts in said parallel connection, a controlled switch having a corresponding plurality of contacts in said pluralityof connections, brushes in the control and controlled switches connected in said circuits in normal positions respectively closing and opening corresponding contacts, means for driving the controlled switch to follow-up motion of the control switch when the latter is set to closed position at a given contact whereby a corresponding contact in the controlled switch is opened, means for positively locking the operating mechanism in a predetermined position after the control and controlled switches are moved in the corresponding positions, said locking means being unlocked when lit the circuit is energized and locked when the circuit is deenergized, clutch means between the, motor and the controlled switch adapted to be closed upon energization of the circuit and opened upon de-energization, and a brake between said motor and said controlled switch openable when said clutch is closed and vice versa.

5. In remote control apparatus, a circuit, means for energizing said circuit, a plurality of parallel connections in said circuit, a control switch having a plurality of contacts in said parallel connection, a controlled switch having a corresponding plurality of contacts in said plurality of connectionsQbrushes inthe control and controlled switches connected in said circuits in normal positions respectively closing and opening corresponding contacts, means for driving the controlled switch to follow the control switch when the latter is set to closed position at a given contact, whereby a corresponding contact to controlled switch is opened, an auxiliary circuit for energizing the driving means independently of the said control switch, and a switch whereby operation by said control switch or said lastnamed switch may be selected.

6. In remote control apparatus, a control switch having a plurality of contacts, a circuit, means for selectively energizing said contacts from said circuit, a controlled means and a controlled switch articulated therewith, said controlled switch having a plurality of contacts corresponding to those in the control switch and respectively electrically connected, a plurality of separate brushes in'the controlled switch each engaging one less than half of the number of contacts and connected in said circuit, relay switches respectively energizable from the respective controlled switch brushes, a motor, means for energizing said motor to move forwardly or in reverse according to the selective action of said relays, a solenoid in said circuit, a drive connection between the motor and said controlled switch, a clutch in said connection and a positive stop, said clutch being adapted to be closed and said positive stop released upon energization of the circuit and vice versa upon de-energization of the circuit,said control switch closing the circuit to one or the other of said controlled switch brushes depending upon the direction of adjustment of the control switch whereby the motor is moved in one direction or another to cause the controlled switch motion to follow up that of the control switch, whereby the controlled switch ultimately re-opens the circuit, and pilot means adapted to be energized upon setting the control switch to indicate the period of the following action by the controlled switch.

'1. In remote control apparatus, a circuit, means for energizing said circuit, a plurality of parallel connections in said circuit, a control switch having a plurality of contacts in said parallel connections, a controlled switch having a corresponding plurality of contacts in said plurality of connections, a device to be operated being connected with the controlled switch, brushes in the control and controlled switches connected in said circuits in normal positions respectively closing and opening certain contacts, drive means for driving the controlled switch to follow-up motion of the controlled switch when the latter is set in closed position at a given contact whereby a corresponding contact in the controlled switch is opened, an operating mechanism between the drive means and the controlled switch, means for positively locking the operating mechanism in a predetermined position after the control-and controlled switches are moved to corresponding positions, said locking means being unlocked when the circuit is energized and locked when the circuit is de-energized, means for decelerating the operating mechanism as the locking means comes into operation, and means for disconnecting the drive means from the operating mechanism as the decelerating means comes into action.

8. In remote control apparatus, a controlled element, a source of energy and a circuit energized thereby, an operating mechanism for moving the controlled element, means for effecting the energization of the operating mechanism comprising a plurality of switches in said circuit, a plurality of contacts in each switch, an electric circuit between switches, means in one switch whereby said circuit may be predeterminately closed to energize the operating mechanism, and means in the other switch associated with the operating mechanism whereby after a predetermined period of operation, said circuit is again opened, a positive brake for the controlled element operable only at predetermined positions of said controlled element, and a friction brake for decelerating the controlled element in conjunction with the operation of the positive brake, said positive and friction brakes being responsive to open when said operating mechanism is actuated.

9. Remote control apparatus comprising means to be controlled, driving means for adjusting said controlled means, a circuit for the driving means, a controlled switch driven from the driving means, means whereby a setting of the controlled switch energizes the driving means to move the controlled means and controlled switch to again set the circuit for de-energization of the driving means, a clutch between said driving means and the controlled means, a friction brake between the clutch and the controlled means and a positive brake for the controlled means, said clutch being adapted to be automatically opened when the driving means is deenergized, said friction and positive brakes being then biased toward braking position, said positive brake exactly determining the positions of rest of the controlled switch and controlled means, said friction brake eliminating the shock of positive braking.

10. Remote control apparatus comprising means to be controlled, driving means for adjusting said controlled means, a circuit for the driving means, a controlled switch driven from the driving means, means whereby a setting of the controlled switch energizes the driving means to move the controlled means and controlled switch to again set the circuit for de-energization of the driving means, a clutch between said driving means and the controlled means, a friction brake between the clutch and the controlled means and a positive brake for the controlled means, said clutch being adapted to be automatically opened when the driving means is deenergized, said friction and positive brakes being then biased toward braking position, said positive brake exactly determining the positions of rest of the controlled switch and controlled means, said friction brake eliminating the shock of positive braking, and a gear connection between the positive braking means and the controlled switch whereby the latter is only in predetermined positions when the positive braking means becomes effectively operative.

11. In remote control apparatus, a circuit,

. means for. energlzing said circuit, a plurality of parallel connections in said circuit, a control switch having a plurality of contacts in said parallel connection, a controlled switch having a corresponding plurality of contacts in said plurality of connections, brushes in the control and controlled switches connected in said circuits in normal positions respectively closing and opening certain contacts, means for driving the controlled switch to follow-up motion of the control switch when the latter is set in closed position at a given contact whereby a corresponding contact in the controlled switch is opened, and means for positively locking the operating mechanism in a predetermined position after the control and controlled switches are moved to corresponding positions, said locking means being unlocked when the circuit is energized and locked whenthe circuit is tie-energized, and a friction brake adapted to eliminate any substantial shock of the positively locking means, said friction brake being open when the circuit is energized and closed when the circuit is deenergized.

12. In remote control apparatus, a circuit, means for energizing said circuit, a plurality of parallel connections in said circuit, a control switch having a plurality of contacts in said parallel connections, a controlled switch having a corresponding plurality of contacts in said plurality of connections, a device to be operated connected with the controlled switch, brushes in the control and controlled switches connected in said circuits in normal positions respectively clos- 49 is opened, an operating mechanism between the drive means and the controlled means, means for positively locking the operating mechanism is apredetermlned position after the control and controlled switches are moved to corresponding positions, sa d locking means being unlocked when the circuit is energized and locked when the circuit is de-energized, a friction brake adapted to eliminate any substantial shock of V the positively locking means, said friction brake being open when the circuit is energized, and

closed when the circuit is de-energized, a speed reducing element in the operating mechanism between the driving means and the controlled switch causing predetermined angular setting of the controlled switch for each operation of the positive locking means, and means for disconnecting the driving means from the con- 15 shock due to operation of said positive stop 2 means, a clutch between said motor and said controlled means, and means for operating said clutch to open substantially simultaneously with the closing of the friction brake means.

14. In apparatus of the class described, a controlled member requiring substantial force to position the same, a motor, means connecting said motor to drive said controlled member including a positive stop means operable at predetermined positions .of the controlled member, a 3

friction brake means operable to brake the con trolled means and avoid shock due to operation of said positive stop means, and speed reducing means in said means connecting said motor to the controlled member and located between the stop means and the controlled member.

ARTHUR B. NEWELL. 

